Photo not related to article [Getty Images Bank]
Photo not related to article [Getty Images Bank]

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong visited field sites Wednesday to inspect efforts to prevent heat-related casualties among farmers, including the use of village public-address broadcasts and wildfire-surveillance drones. She also briefed foreign seasonal workers and elderly farmers on how to avoid heat illness.

Song traveled to Sanggang Village in Daedong-myeon and Cheonji Agricultural Cooperative in Hakgyo-myeon, both in Hampyeong-gun, South Jeolla Province, to review heat-wave response measures and encourage workers on the ground.

She urged village residents and foreign seasonal workers to refrain from farm work when a heat-wave advisory is in effect, and to drink plenty of water and rest. Cooling kits, cooling scarves and heat-wave safety guides translated into foreign languages were also distributed.

From the village community center, Song personally delivered a public broadcast advising residents to avoid outdoor farm work between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and to stop work immediately and rest in a cool place if any unusual symptoms appeared. She also called on the community to look out for elderly residents living alone and those with limited mobility.

Song also inspected a new initiative — launched this year for the first time — that uses wildfire-surveillance drones and vehicles to prevent heat-wave casualties.

The project, run jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Korea Forest Service, the Rural Development Administration, local governments and agricultural cooperatives, deploys drones and vehicles to patrol farmland and villages when a heat-wave advisory is issued. The teams alert farmers to heat dangers and, if they spot anyone showing signs of heat illness, call 119 for a swift rescue.

On Wednesday, drones operated by the Korea Forest Service's Yeongam National Forest Management Office patrolled the surrounding farmland and villages, while vehicle-mounted broadcasts were also conducted.

Song then visited Cheonji Agricultural Cooperative to observe the operation of a rural mobile medical bus and expressed appreciation for the efforts of medical staff and other personnel. She encouraged elderly residents using the bus to make active use of the medical service to guard against heat illness, and handed out heat-wave preparedness supplies.

"Preventing casualties among farmers from the heat wave is of the utmost importance," Song said. "Please make sure to follow heat-wave safety guidelines — stop farm work during the hottest hours of the day and get enough rest."

She added that the government would work with relevant agencies to use every available means — village broadcasts, drones and vehicles — to protect the safety of farmers.


adastra@heraldcorp.com